Losing Carl Jenkinson, Norfolk ‘n Good.
Nov 18th, 2011 by 'holic
What a strange Friday afternoon I have had. A half-day at work presented the opportunity to enjoy a carvery lunch with friends, then a shopping expedition meant I didn’t get back in time for my usual Friday evening Guinness in the local (but don’t worry, I’m on my third tin now!). The first job when I get home these days is to run through all of the email accounts, and I actually received a couple of absolute crackers today. I’ll share them with you on Monday, but Arsenal and Arsenal supporters continue to give me a real buzz.
Of course that buzz is enhanced by the prospect of some proper football again tomorrow. Norwich will be a new venue for some of the younger travellers tomorrow. It was always a fun place to visit back in the day, and one where we were usually given a real test on the pitch. It looks like tomorrow will be no different. Norwich have won a host of admirers for their performances on their return to the top flight. They start the game just two places behind us in the top half of the table.
There is however a different feel about our return from this international break than we have experienced in the previous two. A horrible start to the season has been banished to a dark recess in the back of the mind. I get the impression that large numbers of the support now appreciate that this group of players have been putting in a degree of effort in recent matches that more than makes up for what we may have lost technically in the transfer window.
The only cloud on the horizon is the loss of Carl Jenkinson to a stress fracture of his back. It is such a slice of bad luck to a developing talent who has typified the spirit of the side while he has been covering for Bacary Sagna. It leaves us without an experienced recognised right-back. Johan Djourou or Laurent Koscielny are being tipped to move across. Whoever Arsene plumps for will give it a hundred percent, and will get a degree of understanding from the Gooners in the away section.
The club will have looked at the condition of those coming back from internationals and so I will be waiting to see what the team is before assessing any goalscorer bets. The ‘holic pound therefore has to be punted on a correct score. I have to assume we will put in another full shift, but Norwich have stretched everybody they have faced this season. I’m looking at the 25/1 on offer if you shop around for a 3-2 away win. Depending on who is picked I may have a little back up just before kick-off and I will post it in the drinks if I do.
Ah, the drinks. I really do have to say a big thanks to a bunch of you who have kept everybody entertained in the bar over the last fortnight of international boredom. Clearly there are some multiple personality disorders that need to be treated in there, so it is a good job we have so many health professionals in the place.
All that remains for now is to wish you all a very happy weekend, whatever you are doing. The match review will be relatively late tomorrow as I am booked for more shopping at the final whistle. That won’t be as much of a chore as it sounds. I need to replenish stocks of malt and hop-based products and the proximity of a large M&S to a huge Walmart here offers opportunities to buy some good glugging material at decent prices.
Take care, ‘holics.
157 Responses to “Losing Carl Jenkinson, Norfolk ‘n Good.”
First?!
A pint of Timmy Taylor Landlord and one for yourself ‘holic.
Thank you, Mr Shooter. I’ll have another Guinness π
I hate it when you write a blog and I’m still at work.
Grief is on yesterday’s!
I’m leaving now though so I’ll read the blog at home.
Please have a pint of Guinness at the ready for me π
Thanks.
Have a good journey, Ollie.
Played ‘holic
3-2’ll do
Ureds!
Oh – and pints all round please, landlord
A win is a win! Although I’d plug the ‘Holic pound on 3-1 to the Arsenal on slightly lower odds I presume…
COYG!
Norfolk βn Good. The old ones are the best ones, ‘Holic.
I had to get it in early, Ned. I have a feeling it would have appeared tomorrow for sure elsewhere π
‘Holic@10: Good for you. Always get your retaliation in first.
The late lamented Humphrey Lyttleton delivered that line particularly well.
Well at least there’s not too much traffic at this time.
Now for reading before cooking π
Cheers, ‘holic and up (or down the hatch with) the malt and hop-based products. π
Come on the Arse!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Down the canaries!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Real football again at last. Goodbye to Interlulls for a few months. Big up to you Holic. A pint of that great Guinness for you sir, for maintaining this great blog. I say 3-1 to the Gunners tomorrow.
Around ten or eleven to one, wind.
I am a selfish bissum and want a clean sheet tomorrow, so I will go for us winning 2-0. (Have had tooth removed so probably delusional, but hey I don’t care.)
Dreamt Henry has had serious chats with Chamakh who got his mojo back. All will be well. And yes I will keep taking the tablets. Even though I can’t drink with them. Sigh. Dribble. Yeah, real football !!!!
The world need more Andy Gorams.
Nice odds ‘Holic, nice odds π
Who is imposterating me again?
Freedom!
Goonerholic, drink is a terrible thing…….
Hey ‘Holic
And a very good weekend to you too as you sift your way through various ‘odd bins’ π
Loved this bit:
“….I get the impression that large numbers of the support now appreciate that this group of players have been putting in a degree of effort in recent matches that more than makes up for what we may have lost technically in the transfer window…”
That just about sums it up for me.
4-1 or 4-2 is the highly unreliable Stroey Pound. I believe we’ll win and fairly comfortably too.
To all The Travelling Faithful out there: Have a great day at The Delia Dome and sing your hearts out like you always do.
Cheers all! A round on The Lars from me for anyone in here π
TS@22: Don’t mind if I do.
Evening one and all. Big big game on Saturday. I do think 3 points is a must. I genuinely did not think that mid Nov that we would be moaning about the loss of a 19 year old right back from Charlton. Not sure if that says more about us as a club or the progress The Jenk has made. I do think you are spot on when you say we will miss his honest endeavour.
I would be tempted to have RVP on the bench tomorrow. Hopefully not need to use him. Then all guns blazing for the Champs League.
A convincing win please boys. That’s all I ask.
Keep the faith.
A pleasure NBN. Enjoy the win tomorrow π
Ah! Steve T in the house. Pull up a chair. Join us for a drink fella.
One last thing. Am I the only one who thinks that signing TH14 on a loan deal would actually be quite a good idea?
His numbers were dropping when we let him go Steve. He won’t have got fitter. I suspect Arsene will see what the gps tells him and not take it any further.
Wouldn’t want to see one of the all-time greats in decline and have the new kids on his back.
Holic, his number might have dropped but he’s still a better back up to RvP than Chamakh and Park.
Besides, just the look of him would galvanize the team, the fans, the club, the manager, the entire Arsenal family.
I love TH14.
I get that but surely 20 minute cameos are not beyond the great man? If we need a goal would you rather see TH warming up, or the likes of Park or Chamakh? I can’t see it would do any harm myself.
I agree with Snir. Apart from anything else it would give the whole club a massive boost.
Boodiful preview, just boodiful.
Great work in previous drinks, yet again, from too many to reference.
But, zico – the poem – and a bit of Tabs re multi-personalities π π
BtW Tabs – I was Half-Blind Ali, but Kendo Nagasaki is nothing to do with me π
http://www.sportsgrid.com/soccer/a-soccer-star-who-messaged-someone-who-wasnt-his-girlfriend-is-taught-a-lesson/
This is the last thing I need right now.
That kids seems attached to his gf and I hope it won’t unsettle him.
I really don’t need Almunia like mistakes from him.
Ok, I’m pretty sure it’s fabricated.
Woj’s twitter pic is not the updated one and that girl is looking for attention so she wouldn’t keep on to the pic for a month before posting it if her intention is to “teach guys a lesson.”
I don’t in the least care about all this shit, but I just don’t want Woj to be mentally unstable i.e Almunia.
Steve T@24: I hope RvP isn’t rested. Were I a betting man I’d be tempted by WillHill’s 200/1 on Robin to score in a 1-0.
TS@25: Cheers. Lars’s wallet is the gift you can keep on giving….
Various: Let TH14’s greatness rest forever in our memories. It is a bit sad watching Robert Pires play these days, not because he is bad but because we know how much better he was.
SG@34: A mentally stable Woj wouldn’t be the same Woj at all. And what is this Almunia of which you speak? I have only heard tell of him in tales told to the young to scare them into behaving well.
http://www.goal.com/en/news/596/exclusive/2011/11/18/2762829/five-ways-arsene-wenger-solved-arsenals-defensive-crisis-and
this is pretty nice.
finally some positive words about us. Unsurprisingly coming from a familiar face.
Nhearly there … http://youtu.be/hbEbOdppJXY
UpTheArse!
NBN, you talk of Almunia similarly to the Spanish legend of the Chupacabra! =D
Drink of the day, without a doubt π
Rather massive game today, this is exactly the kind of fixture we have tended to not do very well in over the past few years. If we can produce a result today, then maybe that means that we really have turned a corner.
As for Henry, I am leaning towards the “let’s keep our memories of him untarnished”.
Nice write up Holic, thanks.
With Jenks out I’m at a crossroads (personally) with who I’d choose to play in his place.
Johan has played well enough to earn a start but, fundamentally you can’t argue giving the nod to the kos. The boy just seems to do the right things at the right time when he’s been called to do so. And the way the verminator has come back into the side, how can you not give him a go. Not to mention the fact that his pairing w/ the Big Sack has almost been a seamless one. Also we get more Andre(boue) Santos out on the left, which id fancy a goal from today. I meant to tell you the last league game to take a shot at verm to hit the back of the net, so I’m making my peace now.
In regards to RVP getting a rest, no, he didn’t play in the last NED. game so he ( hopefully) should be fit enough to play.
Theo and The flipper on the wings with ARTeta leading the mid (maybe just sitting back a bit much for my taste) with song and Rambo for support.
Our little Mozart could use the rest, Bennygoon had a rough go at sleep Thursday, frimpers is mad but, maybe he may get a go…no he reneged on his pink hair bet, I don’t trust him.
It may also be a good game to feature the OX in the box at some point but, I think he may have a HANDBRAKE malfunction so he may not make the bench. aa23 isn’t really worthy of a start so he’ll get his obligatory 10 minutes but, will most definitely enjoy his time on the touchline while loosening up.
I’d like to see Aussie- Cup get a go at this level opponent as well but, thats likely a no go.
Goodness, I’ve got so much running through my *boilk* head right now, I’ll just leave it there and thank Thierry Patrick Bergkamp ( the holly trinity, of course) that fucking ridiculous interlull is over.
Back to work boys, do us proud and come on you fucking rip roaring reds!!!!
Ps- time to come back home Jacky boy, the Grove and family miss you son.
Blimey Dr W Allet, use your own computer!
http://www.footballfancast.com/2011/11/football-news/arsenal-given-greenlight-to-make-january-move
So, Lucho Gonzales… Thoughts on this ‘green light’? At his age, he’d probably finish with us…
And if Wenger isn’t going for Cahill in January supposedly (he reneged on his word before lol) do you think that highlights Jan Vertonghen, the Verminator’s Belgian Buddy as oue Primary defensive target?
That sort of defensive potential is the stuff of dreams… π
I am surprisingly nervous about the game today. Best be off to the pub for a calming pint, then…
Wind?
We’re given green light by his agent?
Heh. Don’t want him, don’t need him.
“I suffer so much in this world for the pleasures of last night, that I am bound to escape scot-free in the next……”
Robert Burns
Morning All ,
Nice preview Holic .
Real shame about Jenks . Be interesting to see who Arsene sticks out there . Is he prepared to break up the Kos/Verm axis , stick Kos out right , and bring back ze German ? That would get my vote .
Rest Robin ? Certainly not Sir . Bring back Thierry ? Not in my book . He’s already around the place to give it a “lift” . Legends should be remembered with awe , longing and misty-eyed nostalgia , but they should be left firmly where they belong – in the past .
Trev not Kendo ? Oh well , back to the drawing Board .
Don’t mind admitting I’ve got the screaming ab-dabs , the colly-wobbles and a sprinkling of heebie-jeebies about today’s game , so I’m going for a 2-1 Arse win with ze Big German to break his duck , if he plays .
Good luck everybody . Onwards and Upwards .
@ 43
Wait for me, Lars. π
Robert Burns
A distant relative of ours, as anybody with Scots lineage will tell you π
Aagh, missed the deadline. No transfers for me this week.
Phil Dowd is refereeing? Argh!
Like that team. I’ve added a little back-up punt on 4-2 at 40/1.
Noted, ‘holic.
I shall disconnect my phone near the end of the game and tape it Jackster-style as I seem to have an appointment with my bank.
It had to happen one day.
Rumbled?
Heh!
Right, Mugabe multimedia lockdown.
Come on you Gunners!
COMMMOOONNNNNUUUUUURRRRRRREEEEEEEEDDDDDDSSSSSSS!!!!!!
What ‘holic said!
Come on you rip-roaring reds!
We look bak in that grooove already comonureds!
Come on Per Come on Arsenal!
Fuck me. We should be about 5 up. Then out comes the revolver, we aim it at our own toes and pull the trigger.
RSVP!
Van Persie all square!
Fuk my old boots – at times we are battering these like a bernard mathews turkey burger –
And they’re a decent side playing at home
UREDDDDSSS!
Could be better I have to say but I hope we wont make those mistakes in the second!
I don’t like the fact that we’re not up at the break.
Don’t want “one of those days” games.
Last 15 minutes of the half, not a good sign.
We need to be more professional 2nd half and more clinical. Not really looked in trouble at the back.
Memo to Santos. Today you are playing left back.
Theo on fire. Put him back on the right.
I think Mertesacker is on the ‘holic pound.
Long time since we have absolutely murdered the opposition 1-1.
The pound is looking on.
Should have been 4 up – what are we playing at
The Sack was thrown off the ball by Morison but should have done better
Lets get out there u Reds
Agree with steve T re:Theo
Ramsey has been very very sloppy
Come on you reds!!
Keep those chances coming.
RvP!!!!
Hoh!
What, in the name of all that is holy do we do when RVP is injured?
Genuinely different class.
Come on Van Persie!
Come on the Arsenal!
What’s this about Ramsey being sloppy, I’ve missed all the goals and most of the match due to rubbish circumstances… ‘mutters angrily’
Yes Szczesny! Utter skills! π
Good effort from Theo. Has had a great game that lad.
YYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’ll take it.
We got away with it.
Granted, loads of chances.
But,
We were extremely wasteful and that usually costs us.
We were extremely sloppy in possession.
We couldn’t get that 3rd goal which woulda eased the game and maybe even made it 4 or 5.
We got away with it, but I could care less.
Excellent away win.
How good is TV?
Tough phisical game you have to give it to the lads! Those good old teams are never easy to beat!
We had the worst game our midfield 3 had all season and got away with it.
Love it.
Snir
We didnt get away with it we played well they are in the EPL for reason mate!
My nerves are shattered! But 3 points is 3 points!
Climbing up the Table at pace! 5 League Wins on the Trot me thinks.
Now to put away Dortmund at homefor Champs League last 16 Qualification, COYG!
Top away win, RVP on fire, Theo a right handful, lovely jubbly, all set up for the weekend now π
November omens still kept at bay, Barman drinks all around please and a double for Snir!
We’re definitely a bit luckier than the last few years. Two absolutely craven pieces of diving from the Naarwich forwards only led to one free kick…good thing too because the other one was bang in the area.
Shame about their cheating c*nts trying to con the ref, otherwise I might have come away from the game with a bit of respect for them. As it happens though, they’re dirty in my eyes and I hope we give them the hiding of their life at the Ems.
Onwards and upwards eh Holics? No pressure Liverpool…
I thought we were rather good in truth, on a different day that would have been 4 or 5 nil….
We look more cohesive week to week and just need to find some goals from other players so it’s not all on the captain’s shoulders every week. Thought Gervinho should have come off after 55 minutes, he looked spent.
Got to stop giving away free kicks in added time….hate that.
Arteta did so much of the dirty unheralded work today and did it well….a Kevin Richardson for the new age.
Onwards and upwards, we might just be seeing our best example of a team in quite a few years. Plus Henry to guest star in January with a few goals…
ATG – I meant get away it because we usually get punished in these kinda games, not get away with it because we were outplayed or something like that.
I literally could not watch that free kick at the end, thoughts of Sunderland, Birmingham etc. came to mind.
Tim, don’t get me wrong, we were excellent.
It was a weird game.
We were excellent with our midfield 3 being horrible.
It’s just those kinda games that we wouldn’t win in previous years (Sunderland, Birmingham, Newcastle etc.).
I
Another win and another brace from Robin:) Sets the tone for the weekend!
I don’t know if it’s just me, but I felt strangely confident about closing down the match even though we were just one goal ahead. No nerves at all! I definitely would not have been so cool about it a couple of months ago.
Now off to enjoy a good 20 over a side cricket game. Onwards and Upwards! Bring on Dortmund!
‘m not kidding, I couldn’t breathe when Holt went down in the area, I was Phil Dowd would be at it again.
Holics
I dont think we have had such a strong team in a long time don’t panic !
We are going to give them a smashing in the reverse fixture, no doubt π
I like Norwich, but my opinion of them may change come me seeing a replay of potential cuntery in this game from them…
I guess quite a lot of people think otherwise! (Reading all the drinks now). But I do feel that we had a good game. Got to love Arteta.
The International Break made me forget about my nerves watching Arsenal in extra time lol
Can I get an assist? π
Assist? Or goal?
Goes for goal!
Snir
owd had a really good game I thought he was looking out for silly fouls, one he got wrong right at the whistle…
Vermalen never touched him but hey we defended well! I just wiszed PEr would of smacked it anywhere. But we are the TEAM who pass the ball so mistakes will always be therw.
Yay Wind, way to go:) My first assist. Feels good:)
Apologies about spelling mistakes !
Get in!!!
I am complete π
Many thanks Baltimorean, appreciate it massively ‘cue the wild celebrations like at the end of the Chelsea game’
Well done lads. Our new found ability to close out games is heartening. Experience in the team has come to our rescue and I welcome it with both hands.
Well in Wind!
Well battelled WIN come you REDS!
Wind loses his virginity!
Beer please.
A win is a win.
Bring on Dortmund. And more beer.
Wind to become the next RvP. π
And RvP himself: Making the voters for the Ballon d’Or look more foolish every day.
that was very impressive away win/performance against a formish team IMO
Usupereds!
pardon ‘a’ and imo – beers for all in the bar please barman!!!
OK following @96 Baltimorean I’ll say it again.
I THOUGHT WE WERE EXCELLENT!
I just wrote that we got away with it cause we used to draw these type of games on a 90th minute equalizer.
Santos is improving and taking fewer risks too I thought? Discuss….
@Snir….
How did you think we were today?
I thought Djourou played well…. π
Ty all, be back on later π
Wind@38: Don’t think the cryptids won’t get you just because they don’t exist.
& Wind@100: Well in. At lastβ¦
Three points were the important get today. Arteta and Song weren’t as tidy and dominant as they have been in recent games, but the positive was that we had one of those murdering them 1-1 games, to borrow ‘Holic’s phrase, but didn’t give away the late points-costing goals we did in those sorts of games in recent seasons.
Sixth and rising.
A glass of you finest claret would be in order, ‘Holic, if you would be so kind.
Re: ‘holic you may have forgotten to make a transfer for Diab’holical but the more important thing is did you keep RVP as your captain? If so, smart man!!!!
@116 North Bank Ned
Couldn’t agree more mate well said!
The ‘holic pound may not have come in but the three points in the bag is ample reward I would think. Toast to the barman. π
Tim, I think it started against W.B.A
Obviously a AW masterpiece π
Bigging up Santos’ offensive contribution in the Pre W.B.A presser and then tell him to curb it π
at times in the first 20/5 minutes – when we were battering ’em – at times the play almost seemed to be going through LB Santos – Cor. ahem – anyway back to the beer
psed thought game was made for comebakh chamakh to come on in the last five and snaffle a brace – maybe
Usupereds
By the way, I’m sure no one in the meeja will mention it, but this is the second away game in a row that we came from behind to win.
Resolve.
good win gays…..
Hooray!
My VHS was very choppy but fairly comfortable in the end.
SHould have been more, but I like the fact that we don’t panic in the last minutes of the games now.
Special word again for Koscielny who is a proper footballer.
Oh, and Gordon Bennett should have got a second yellow.
Can we please not have any praise for the ‘plucky underdogs who did their best to play football’? Their diving to get an EQ was pathetic.
Filthy cheating farmers. They’re now on my list.
Tim @ 123 Santoast u 4 that
Afternoon lads.
I must admit, I thought it was going to be one of those days on a number of occasions this afternoon. Firstly after we went 1 down after totally outplaying them, then after Gerviniho rounded the keeper only to pass the ball back to him and finally when they got a free kick after a silly foul in extra time.
Luckily my fears were alayed and we came away with three bootiful points. All in all I thought we played very well and totally controlled the game, just wish we’d of scored a few more to make life a little bit more comforfatable for ourselves and saved me from a few minor heart pulpatations.
Voddie shots all round.
Thanks for the vodka, H2H
Ollie there is rather tasty looking pint of Wisniowka next to you!
Welcome Ollie.
Before I forget, the away support was massive again, did us all proud. You could hardly hear a canary chirp in their own stadium.
H2H
You are correct as usual π
What Arthur said
Well said H2H – and i luv the way this lot don’t panic or lose confidence when things are not going their way
Exactly AL
Indeed AL.
I think that’s probably the big difference between us now and the team from the not so distant past. The mental strength that AW loves to talk about is finally visable, heads are not dropping when things go against us and we don’t switch off in the closing stage of our games.
Long may it continue.
Perhaps we just needed a proper captain? π
Heh.
I know that was semi tongue in small section of cheek Ollie, but, I still think there’s a great deal of truth to that statement.
Waiting for tube home. Bladder about to burst zico-on-the-Piccadilly-line style. Happy we won, but won’t be able to say anything more coherent than that until I’ve had a piss… Well apart from this of course: drinks all round on my tab!
Been to 4 home games this season, but our away support has outsung the home support on all occasions expect for the home Shrewsbury game where our away support equalled the efforts of the home support.
Magnificent.
Haha, nice one Lars, thanks!
A beer for everyone at the bar – mental strength!
Lars @138
I feel your pain, comrade. π
Lars is that card still valid?
Can’t believe I am going to say this but for the second time in a row I agree with Snir. π
I thought we were very very wasteful. We have played well at times but we can not squander as many chances and expect to be a side that challenges. Shocking error for their goal. Would a shout from Shezza have helped? Who knows? Still no excuse for not dealing with it. Santos needs to stop switching off. He just looks as if he is dreaming at times. We also gave the ball away far too often.
Plus points have to be include the form of RVP. As I said above, I really do not know what we do if he gets injured. TV was massive again. Kos did well as an emergency right back. The final words I will dedicate to Theo. Today he showed all the things I want him to show. He continued to be a threat and seemed to have a bucket load of confidence. Long may it continue.
3 points is 3 points. I am grateful for that. But we will have far tougher tests that that. Time to learn and build.
Happy pissing mate you will feel 100 years younger afterwards π or like a baloon π
Thanks NBN, but I’ll be looking over my shoulder for those cryptids in the dark, probably an urban myth that they DON’T exist… π
Steve T (The real one)
You are both correct! However on another day these will go in so enjoy the three points fellas!
Fantastic advice Arthur. Beer anyone?????
Hello boys. Some harsh voices there. Thought it was a cracker of a game, but yes, we should have won 5 or 6-1.
Just back from the shops. Ordering Chinese delivery. Will be back with my observations in the not a match report later.
Looking forward to not that kind of write-up.
Sometimes we’ll get 5 when it seems unlikely (Chelsea) other times just a pair. If we score two every week for the rest of the season we’ll be in good shape.
Stupid question but would this Arsenal team beat the Arsenal of a year ago? I’d say yes 2-1 with Denilson getting a red card.
I have been to the loo now. Feel very relieved!
Wind, massive contratulations on your first century – I told you you would get there in the end π
This team is so far removed from the tangled web of nerves that we saw at the start of the season. Not long ago we would have fallen apart after giving away a goal like that but we just kept going and won it.
Great game all in all in it’s own kind of way, we created lots and won and it still felt like we could play a whole lot better. And I’ll take that kind of win any day.
Oh, and those who have emptied the last round can pick up a new one at the bar!
Very good win. Midfield three were a bit off today in their passing but that is expected after a meaningless interlull. We will be zipping it about in not time, you will see!
Brilliant defensive sense, Arteta has and I love it
A pint on Lars’ tab, please
Tim@151: It would come down to, would last year’s RvP outscore this year’s.
Wind@146: Imagine you are afraid, very afraid…
‘Holic@149: It was an open game, which made it entertaining to watch. What thankfully has gone away, hopefully for good, is that feeling that the defense could implode at any minute and that the opposition is never more than a corner, free kick or breakaway away from scoring. True, Norwich’s goal came from a defensive error, but it was an individual, not a collective mistake. Also, props to Kos, who looked the part at right back, where he played in his early days at L’Orient, if I recall. JD looks like a CB playing RB when he plays there. If he is to understudy any position it should be DM.
My tuppence worth:
Our passing at times was very sloppy. I thought 2 of our midfield 3 looked really sluggish at times, perhaps to be expected after being away on international duty. Arteta was very important to us today and my only criticism is that he is sometimes a bit casual in his passing, which invites un-necesary pressure. To be fair though, he mops up his own mess a large proportion of the time.
Up front, Theo was excellent as stated by others and RvP probably should have had at least another hat trick to his name. What a sublime finish for the second. Gervinho was excruciatingly frustrating. I think we can all see that the guy has got it, but he already should have many more goals against his name – poor guy in the pub got a kick from me as I willed Gervinho to shoot having rounded the keeper
At the back, Thomas Vermaelen, how we have missed him. Kos did pretty well at right back but Per German Bloke had an ordinary day, and that’s probably being kind. How a guy that size can be so easily bullied just puzzles me. He has quite a bit of adjusting to do. Santos had an in and out game and my only crticism of the Pole in Goal – where the hell was your cap, first half?
3 points was all important and the next 3 games are at home I believe so lets continue to build momentum.
Drinks for all – Lars plastic pal to pay π
Cheers Dr Z
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Through my rose tinteds…